MS eNews – Friday, April 8th, 2016
Strength of Community
by Dennis Harter
As we head into the well-earned holidays, we find ourselves incredibly grateful for strength, care and support of our community. As a whole school, we have looked after each other, been understandingly flexible, and shared in our compassion and grief, through these saddest of times. From parents coming together to tie ribbons to counselors supporting students and adults it has been the strength and togetherness of our community that has shown through time and again. International communities such as ours often separate us from loved ones back home, so we have to be each other’s extended family. As I shared ahead of our moment of silence acknowledgement of Anthony’s passing, you can’t have community without “unity”. Together, unified as a community, we continue to support those in need through tragic times.
MS Principal’s Forum follow-up
by Dennis Harter
I had planned on putting together notes for this week’s eNews regarding the Principal’s Forum from last week. Unfortunately, our time and energy was appropriately placed elsewhere this week and these notes are not ready for this week’s news. I will complete them over the Songkran break and a comprehensive summary of the Principal’s Forum topics, along with additional responses to questions/concerns not addressed at the forum will be shared on Friday, April 22nd. My apologies for the delay.
Happy Songkran
by Dennis Harter
Like many in our community, our faculty and students are looking forward to this weeklong break. It has been a long push since January and teachers and students have been working hard throughout. In Thailand, Songkran celebrates unity and family, along with welcoming the new-year and new beginning. On behalf of our faculty and staff, I hope that your holiday is rejuvenating and may you spend it together with those dear to you. Happy Songkran and Thai New Year to all in our community!
MS Student Registration Update
by: Cindy Plantecoste
We would like to extend a big “thank you” to all of our parents for your support in helping us have a smooth registration process for the 2016-2017 school year. We have received all of the student course requests and are can now begin to build our master schedule for next year. Our counselors will be in touch with you and/or your child if we have any questions or need further information.
Clean Out That Closet!
by: Kerry Dyke
Earth Week is starting the Monday after Songkran. All week we will have containers in front of the school collecting items to donate and recycle. Most of the items (toys, books, magazines, clothing, sports equipment, shoes, etc) will go to a local refugee camp helping kids the same age as our students without a country. Most are from Somalia and cannot go to school here or work. Some items will go to Second Chance Bangkok helping local designers in one of Bangkok’s poorest neighborhoods. As well we will collect E-waste for the first time and recycle it responsibly, thus bring in those old devices, chargers, etc.
We will also have the documentary Cowspiracy showing on Tuesday, 2:15 in the MPB 1 and parents are welcome to join as well. Cowspiracy is a 2014 documentary addressing how animal agriculture is the largest cause of pollution worldwide and that none of the largest environmental groups are talking about it. It is rated 13+ as there are some graphic scenes of animal death. In addition to confronting agribusiness and environmental groups, this documentary espouses that many of the planet’s woes (water shortages, climate change, starvation, and poverty in the developing world) could end if people ate less meat.
Throughout the week we will have presentations and activities for all that you can see on the poster below.
Useful MS Links!
- MS Athletics
- MS Clubs & Activities Booklet
- MS Drama/Dance Blog
- MS Facebook Page
- MS Photos Archive
- MS Program of Studies 2016-2017
- MS Student/Parent Handbook
Leaving ISB at the End of the Semester?
Dear Parents,
If your child will be leaving ISB at the end of this semester please make sure you inform Khun Natt at natthapc@isb.ac.th or 02-963-5893.
The earlier we know about your child leaving ISB the more time it gives us to prepare important forms and transfer information for your child’s next school in a timely manner.
We know this can be a hard time for our students and we would like to make sure they are prepared for the transition they will be making so that it is less stressful.
If you would like your child to be part of a small group to give them the opportunity to understand their transition and build strategies to cope during their transition please click here and complete the form.
Sincerely,
Jackie Greenwood: jackieg@isb.ac.th
Carmel Kean: carmelk@isb.ac.th
Janel Wilder: janelw@isb.ac.th
Earth Week Plastic Photo Challenge
Dear Parents and Students,
Your mission, should you decide to accept the challenge is to capture the best photo of plastic in the environment.
Theme: “Our Plastic World”.
We will pick up to 20 photos to have enlarged and displayed. People vote for the winner. As protectors of the Earth, we encourage all our ISB community members (students, parents, teachers, staff, etc) to take part, to notice ‘Our Plastic World’ and submit a photograph.
Submission Date: You can start sending your submissions now. All submissions must be received by Monday, April 18, which is the first day back from Songkran. This is so we can have them displayed during Earth Week April 18-22.
Photo Submissions: Please email submissions to – louises@isb.ac.th
Your submission needs: Name, a title, and where the photo was taken.
Winner will be determined on International Earth Day, April 22.
(Repeat Announcement) ISB Summer School Program
Will you be here in Bangkok in June or July? Looking for something for your child(ren) to do? Then check out ISB’s exciting and enriching Summer School Program! Once again students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 will be learning in an environment that is nurturing, academically challenging, and socially engaging. ISB’s highly qualified summer school teachers are inspired professionals dedicated to creating the best possible learning experiences. New ideas, new curriculum and new friends await each student.
Each year, a number of enrichment camps are offered to students. Typically, these offer learning and exploration around a core learning area. This year, ISB is offering some old favorites as well as many new courses, including:
- Two week Computer Science for All (previously known as Coding & Robotics) and is open to students going into grades 4 – 9
- A one-week Panther Musical Theatre Camp open to students in grades 4 – 8.
- Two week camps in Mandarin and Spanish open to students who will be in grades 1 – 5 in 2016/17, and three week camps in Thai open to students who will be in grades 1 – 8 next year.
- A two-week camp in drama improvisation (Devising Theatre) open to students who will be in grades 4 – 8.
- One-to-four week camps, called Physical Fun, for students who will be in grades 2 – 9 in 2016/17.
For complete information on our website about our ISB Summer Program, please click here. Registration is now open with an Early Bird special expiring on Friday, April 29th.
For any questions, please email sumdir16@isb.ac.th
Best Regards,
Maurilio Baron-Toaldo
Summer School Director
International School Bangkok
(Repeat Announcement) eNewsletter Guidelines
by: Tony Arnold
anthonya@isb.ac.th
ISB eNewsletters provide a valuable avenue for communication within the ISB parent community. Please see our eNewsletter guidelines below.
Submitting an announcement for publication
ISB accepts announcements from ISB families and ISB staff for potential publication in our eNewsletters. The announcements are generally intended to highlight events that occur at ISB and/or highlight information about ISB.
What to include in the announcement
• A title for your announcement
• An email contact for further information
• An image or photo (optional)
Where to submit your announcement
4publish@isb.ac.th is for announcements of interest to the entire ISB community.
tinaratr@isb.ac.th is for Elementary School (ES) announcements of interest to ES families.
maurilib@isb.ac.th is for Middle School (MS) announcements of interest to MS families.
vijitl@isb.ac.th is for High School (HS) announcements of interest to HS families.
Your announcement will be submitted to the appropriate Principal and/or to our Marketing Director for review. ISB reserves the right to determine which announcements will and will not be published, and to edit announcements that are approved for publication.
Frequency of eNewsletter mailings
The ISB eNewsletter that is for the entire community is sent out on Thursdays. Announcements for potential publication in this newsletter must be received by noon on Thursdays.
The ES, MS, and HS eNewsletters are sent out on Fridays. Announcements for potential publication in these newsletters must be received by noon on Fridays.